Trade union demands clarity over future of TUI fly Belgium

The socialist trade union BBTK is demanding urgent clarity from TUI fly Belgium over the future of its Belgian fleet, operations and employment, following recent comments by TUI Group CEO Sebastian Ebel about a possible reduction in the number of aircraft based in Belgium.

TUI has since sought to nuance the reports, but BBTK says important questions remain unanswered. The union points to changes already communicated through the company’s works council, with some destinations being dropped while frequencies on other routes will increase. These changes could directly affect the fleet capacity and production required in Belgium.

“We do not want a discussion about a newspaper article, but clarity about the future,” BBTK said.

The union is particularly concerned about the potential impact on employment. Belgian TUI fly staff have already faced several major restructuring measures in recent years, including the end of the airline’s long-haul operations, the closure of its Liège base and the planned closure of its Antwerp base in March 2027.

The possibility of further reducing the Belgian-based fleet has therefore caused renewed concern among employees.

BBTK has formally asked management for clarification on the scenarios being considered and their possible impact on Belgian operations and jobs. The union says it wants to give management the opportunity to engage in consultation, but has warned that it will file a strike notice if serious social dialogue does not take place within seven days.

The latest dispute follows TUI’s warning that Belgium’s planned increase in the passenger departure tax from €5 to €7 could make the country less attractive for aircraft deployment.

However, the tax increase is unlikely to be the only factor behind TUI’s fleet decisions. As previously reported by Aviation24.be, TUI fly Belgium has already been consolidating its Belgian operations for commercial and operational reasons, while the wider TUI airline and tour operator business has also come under pressure from weaker demand and higher costs.

The coming discussions with the unions should provide more clarity on whether further fleet reductions are actually being considered and, if so, what they would mean for TUI fly Belgium’s workforce.